Product Overview
The DWL-8600AP is D-Link’s next generation Unified Access Point supporting the IEEE 802.11n standard. Versatile and powerful, this device can be flexibly deployed as a stand-alone "fit" wireless Access Point or as a "thin" managed Access Point (AP) manageable from a wireless switch such asD-Link’s DWS-4026.

Blazing wireless speeds802.11n offers up to six times increased throughput when compared with existing 802.11a/g networks.By employing the DWL-8600AP today, you can prepare your business for the future generation of wireless devices and mobile applications. The DWL-8600AP is also fully backwards compatible with 802.1a/b/g clients.

Green technology for advanced power savingThe DWL-8600AP features scheduled and unscheduled Automatic Power Save Delivery (APSD). Unscheduled APSD (U-APSD) is a power management method that is more efficient than older 802.11 Power Save Polling. The primary benefit of U-APSD is that it allows for the voice client to synchronize the transmission and reception of voice frames with the AP, thereby allowing the client to go into power saving mode when not sending or receiving packets.Furthermore, the DWL-8600AP is fully compliant with 802.3af even when operating at maximum power. Unlike 802.11n Access Points from other manufacturers that require PoE+ or 802.3at when enabling both radios, the DWL-8600AP thus showcases D-Link’s continuous commitment to green technology.

Intelligent "Fit" Access PointThe DWL-8600AP has everything on-board that enables network administrators to set up a secure wireless network and to connect to any Ethernet switch or router. Advanced wireless functions that the DWL-8600AP supports include: WEP data encryption, WPA/WPA2 security, client MAC address filtering, AP load balancing, QoS/WMM (Wireless Multimedia), and Rogue AP Detection.Security configuration settings can be locally stored on the DWL-8600AP itself. Wireless connections can easily be expanded by adding more DWL-8600APs or other 802.11a/g/n compliant APs to the site.With AP Clustering, up to 8 APs can form a cluster for convenient management and configuration of all APs. Businesses without complicated network requirements can therefore use the DWL-8600AP to get a wireless network set up and running without the need for any additional special hardware.

"Thin" AP centrally managedAlternatively, the DWL-8600AP can operate in conjunction with a D-Link DWS-4026 unified wired/wireless switch. In this mode, multiple DWL-8600APs can connect directly or indirectly to the switch to provide unparalleled security and wireless mobility for wireless clients. Each DWL-8600AP will be continually tuned by the switch to provide optimal RF channels and transmission power for all mobile clients, giving them the best wireless signals in both 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands and uninterrupted wireless connectivity.In this mode, the switch automatically configures every connected “thin” DWL-8600AP, so no configuration is necessary during installation. If a DWL-8600AP needs to be replaced, the replacement DWL-8600AP automatically inherits the same configuration, making the replacement process simple.

Flexible Quadband Wireless LAN connectivityThe DWL-8600AP delivers concurrent wireless performance in both frequency bands simultaneously. With Quadband connectivity, two wireless networks are effectively created, both running at full bandwidth, offering a significant increase in total network capacity. At the same time, the DWL-8600AP remains fully backward compatible with the 802.11b standard in the 2.4GHz frequency.

Optimal Wireless PerformanceThe architecture of most current wireless LAN controllers requires wireless traffic to return to the controller for centralized processing, providing unnecessary traffic delay. The DWL-8600AP –when operating with a DWS-4026 switch – offers administrators extra options. Depending on the wireless application, wireless traffic can either be tunneled back to the switch for better security control, or locally forwarded at the Access Point for optimal performance. This device offers administrators maximized flexibility with options to tunnel guest traffic to the switch for centralized security control,and forward VoIP traffic directly from the Access Point for optimal performance. The DWL-8600AP furthermore supports AP Clustering and Wireless Distribution System (WDS). WDS allows for the AP to act as a bridge, connecting two different networks to each other wirelessly.

Total security & Quality of Service (QoS)The DWL-8600AP continuously scans both frequency bands and their associated channels to detect rogues while simultaneously providing wireless connectivity to mobile clients. If a rogue is detected, it reports the result to the DWS-4026 wireless switch that manages it. From a management console, administrators can identify the rogue AP and take appropriate action.The DWL-8600AP supports 64/128/152-bit WEP data encryption, WPA/WPA2 security and multiple SSID per RF frequency band. These functions along with wireless user MAC Address Filtering and SSID Broadcast Disable can be used to set up security and limit outsiders’ access to the internal network. The DWL-8600AP supports 802.1Q VLAN Tagging and WMM (Wi-Fi Multimedia) for important wireless transmissions such as VoIP and streaming media applications, delivering critical user-based services, such as prioritized delivery of voice traffic. Features
• Concurrent 802.11n operation at full speed in two distinct frequency bands • Gigabit connectivity with 802.3af PoE support• Flexible deployment as stand-alone “fit” AP or centrally managed “thin” AP via DWS-4026• Automatic adjustment of RF channels & output power• Rogue Access Point (AP) detection• Wireless Distribution System (WDS) for bridging between two wired networks (stand-alone mode)• Up to 16 SSIDs per radio• Solid die cast metal housing

WiFi is a wonderful thing. You can take your laptop anywhere in your house and access the Internet, or access your network from the garden. However, it does introduce the grim possibility of somebody else doing exactly the same, without you ever knowing. This guide seeks to make you aware of various security terms and ideas associated with wireless networking and what you should consider when setting up a wireless network.

As a growing number of homes contain more than one computer, their users must find ways to network them. The primary purpose for creating a home network tends to be to provide Internet access to all computers within the house. There are other good reasons, however. These include enabling LAN gaming, data backups from one machine to another and the sharing of music within the home.